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The Black-Chinned Yuhina – a Tiny Acrobat for the Small Bird Specialist

Posted by: Frank Indiviglio in Bird Behavior, Bird Species Profiles, Field Notes and Observations on Birds, Wild Birds February 15, 2011 Comments Off on The Black-Chinned Yuhina – a Tiny Acrobat for the Small Bird Specialist 8020 Views

Black Chinned YuhinasThe Black-Chinned Yuhina, Yuhina nigrimenta, is one of the few small non-seedeaters that have gained favor in private bird collections.  While its dietary needs are not easy to meet, the Yuhina is an excellent choice for experienced keepers looking for an unusual, active bird that is not often seen in US collections.

Natural History

The Black-Chinned Yuhina is classified as an Old World Babbler, Family Timaliidae.   Several of its relatives, including the Pekin Robin and the Whiskered Yuhina (please see photos), are popular in the zoo and pet trades, while others are scarcely studied; new species are described each year.

These minute birds top out at 4 inches in length, and are extremely acrobatic…I’m always reminded of Chickadees when watching Yuhinas in action.  Their plumage is a pleasing combination of olive, brown and black, tinged with buff highlights, and the head is topped by long feathers that can be erected into a crest.

The Black-Chinned Yuhina occupies a huge range extending from Bangladesh through India and China to Cambodia and Vietnam.

Housing

Despite their small size, Yuhinas require lots of room – their antics can only be appreciated in a large flight cage or outdoor aviary.

Whiskered YuhinaBe sure to include live or artificial plants…tiny enough to be caught by predators as small as mantids, Yuhinas are ever-wary and appreciate cover.  Even well-acclimated birds will refuse to breed unless provided with a dense plant in which to construct a nest – a pair I cared for nested in a hanging, potted spider plant.  Large hanging silk plants, designed for captive reptiles, work well in indoor Yuhina cages.

Diet

Yuhina-feeding is an art – I enjoy the challenge, but the work involved is not for everyone.  The wild diet consists of fruit, insects and nectar; captives will not thrive if a variety of each is not available.

Yuhina bills are unbelievably thin, and so food must be finely grated.  Plums, pears, mangos, grapes, oranges and other soft fruits, coated with ground Softbill Select and Egg Food, should be offered twice daily (discard uneaten food).  A bit of nectar should be given, but if allowed to they may eat this to the exclusion of all else.  Honey-soaked sponge cake, an old bird-keepers favorite, makes a great treat.

Insects must be provided each day, with variety being vital.  Mealworms and waxworms are too thick-skinned, but 10 day old and ½ inch crickets will be accepted.  Tiny flies, moths, gnats, aphids and other invertebrates are essential for good health and critical for pairs with chicks – I’ve always maintained insect traps, such as the Zoo Med Bug Napper, to help meet the needs of the softbills under my care (please see article below).  Yuhina keepers should also consider maintaining colonies of flightless houseflies and fruit flies (available commercially).

Dried Shrimp should be offered and used regularly if accepted.

Further Reading

Pekin RobinNotes and photo, wild Yuhinas

Collecting Insects for Pet Birds

Pekin Robin Care  

 

 

Black Chinned Yuhina image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted to flickr by Fisherbray

Whiskered Yuhina image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted to flickr by Yathin

Pekin Robin image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by ltshears and to flickr by BelgianChocolate

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I believe that I was born with an intense interest in animals, as neither I nor any of my family can recall a time when I was not fascinated by creatures large and small. One might imagine this to be an unfortunate set of circumstances for a person born and raised in the Bronx, but, in actuality, quite the opposite was true. Most importantly, my family encouraged both my interest and the extensive menagerie that sprung from it. My mother and grandmother somehow found ways to cope with the skunks, flying squirrels, octopus, caimans and countless other odd creatures that routinely arrived un-announced at our front door. Assisting in hand-feeding hatchling praying mantises and in eradicating hoards of mosquitoes (I once thought I had discovered “fresh-water brine shrimp” and stocked my tanks with thousands of mosquito larvae!) became second nature to them. My mother went on to become a serious naturalist, and has helped thousands learn about wildlife in her 16 years as a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo. My grandfather actively conspired in my zoo-buildings efforts, regularly appearing with chipmunks, boa constrictors, turtles rescued from the Fulton Fish Market and, especially, unusual marine creatures. It was his passion for seahorses that led me to write a book about them years later. Thank you very much, for a complete biography of my experience click here.
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